Earlier this month, before the Coronavirus stopped us from traveling beyond the comforts of home, I traveled to Honolulu, HI on a business trip. Arriving on a weekend, I had made advance plans to visit the Pearl Harbor National Memorial,...
Road Trip to Oakland and San Francisco

I recently took a road trip with my 12-year-old son from Eugene, Oregon to Oakland, California to visit a friend. My friend needed a car, and I happened to have one I was no longer driving, so it seemed...
Enjoy a German-Style Christmas Market in Oregon

You might think you have to travel to an actual German town, or at the very least, a “Bavarian village” such as Leavenworth, Washington, which goes all out at Christmas-time. But the answer is no! You can visit the charming...
Family Fun In Las Vegas In January On A Budget

For the past several years I’ve attended a large convention in Las Vegas. As it happens, it’s always in January or early February, which means that the weather can be iffy—sometimes pleasant, sometimes freezing, sometimes rainy. And, the hotel...
New South Willamette Food Trail Throughout Lane County, Oregon

The state of Oregon is a remarkable place for food. The geography encompasses coastal waters, providing abundant seafood such as Dungeness crab, salmon, and oysters. Mountains and meadows provide mushrooms, berries, fruits, and nuts . . . in particular,...
There’s Lots to Love About Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula

Over a beautiful spring weekend in March, I and my 11-year-old son went to the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington State. It also happened to be the weekend of the first annual Coastal Celtic Music Festival, held March 22 through...
LEGOLAND California Amusement Park

Five years have passed since we frequented LEGOLAND Florida Resort, a trip my then seven-year-old has earmarked as the best day of his life—no small accolade for the son of a travel writer. As one might suspect, he was...
A Day at the San Diego Zoo

If your family is planning a vacation to San Diego, California, the San Diego Zoo will likely pop up at the top of your search list—and for good reason. Commonly ranked among the most renowned zoos in the world,...